Video: Jtube: Family Guy

Published: October 25, 2009

Why don't most children of intermarried couples identify as Jewish?

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Visitor Comments: 19

(19) Shoshana, November 20, 2012 4:29 PM

Marry Jewish!

Excellent video! One very good reason not to intermarry. Eventually you will be sorry,when you realize what a great heritage you have turned your back on. Even if your house is bi-religion, your children are being cheated of a proper Jewish upbringing. That is, if you're a Jewish woman. But if you are a Jewish man married to a Catholic woman, so forget it because your kids are Catholic and you have ended your link in the chain of Judaism. P.S. Aish.Com rabbi - why don't you put this video where it has more of a chance of being viewed??

(18) Richard, June 28, 2011 11:03 AM

A good way of showing what life is about.

Brilliantly produced cartoon! It shows how a situation of conflict needs to be handled with sensitive guidance to achieve harmonious results. Just saying "I am this and you are that" will not resolve differences. Facing the facts and needs of each person must be handled by experts and not by well-meaning do-gooders. Jews are different from non-Jews. We each have our differing spiritual needs. This cartoon illustrates how certain differences may still remain unresolveable. A well-meaning person who may be wearing a kippa does not necessarily qualify them to give the correct guidance.

(17) HM, January 31, 2010 1:59 AM

how did this get on TV?

This is about as anti semitic as one could get. I did not see one thing funny here. YES, the kids usually end up being non-Jews, this is fact. It is easier to fit in the everyday society, in their eyes. In a lot of cases they become "good" anti-Semites. As is shown here, this is closer to the truth then most may wish to believe. Just not sure why this is being promoted here.

(16) Anonymous, January 14, 2010 7:27 AM

why do we have problems- we are allways considered a half

Yes- this video is stretcehing things....a little. and only a little.. I have a jewish mother and a roman catholic father. My mother conciders herself a very religious Jew (just not observant). We had christmas and chanukah. Pesach and Easter. To Jews- there is allways something wrong with me as my dad isn't jewish. and to non-jews- my dad isn't jewish- why can't I go to church. My parents see nothing wrong with marrying out as they had done. In fact they would have preferred I marry the nice catholic boy I had been seeing in my high school years rather than the rabbi I did marry. My grandparents urge brissim for their non jewish grandsons (from my uncles). No wonder the kids grow up confused and when they are shown no difference between jew and non-jew as far as furfilling their goals in life- why shouldn't they perpetuate the trend. It is a problem.............

(15) jacob, December 21, 2009 8:44 AM

It is a cartoon joust get a life

The cartoon is a joke it is not fact how one wants to interpret fantasy is there concern and that is all

(14) Esther, November 5, 2009 8:44 PM

offensive

I find this episode comptely offensive

(13) Anonymous, November 2, 2009 2:25 AM

Its sad

I aplaud what this women is trying to do. But its so sad that shes messing everything up in the process. Hasen't she heard of Aish?

(12) SusanE, October 31, 2009 3:57 PM

To Answer the Original Question

Why don't most children of intermarried couples identify as Jewish? Because the parent who intermarried didn't identify strongly as Jewish. Otherwise they wouldn't have intermarried. Is that a fair answer?

(11) SusanE, October 30, 2009 5:20 PM

Another Way of Seeing it.

I could be totally Wrong. Who knows. But do you trust what you hear and what you see? Did you see the Star of David partially hidden? The one kitchen window is different from the other. Was I wrong about Lois and the Rabbi changing places? Is the toaster where it always was? How about the coffee pot? Always look deeper for meaning.

(10) Akiva Crown, October 29, 2009 4:50 AM

Robert Klein Ira? Really?

Ira, if you are quoting Robert Klein I suppose it makes sense that you would not enjoy Family Guy. Is he even still alive? However, to you Ira and every other person complaining about the show, answer the question! With that said, I will. Bottom line, interfaith marriage gives the message to the kids that both religions are not valued enough to enhance them through marriage, so the kids have no interest in continuing a tradition their parents don't think is important.

(9) sharona, October 29, 2009 1:11 AM

This episode is quite offensive, but it had some truth in it. For example, at first she wasn't so interested, and the husband didn't mind being supportive of her heritage. Some couples are like that where they are either secular, or they have both faiths in the home. When peter in the cartoon changed his mind and wanted it only his way, then she started to feel something for her own heritage. Some couples are like that inwhich the Jewish mother wants to raise her children Jewish but the father wants them to also practice his. Couples in general should think about this before marrying. If he wants Christian children, marry a Christian. So too, if she wants to raise her children in a Jewish environment, marry a Jew; Many look at it as a cultural thing and are not aware of the serious religious aspect. If an intermarried couple combines faiths, and the kids are Jewish, then the other faith is idol worship to the kids. Or if they are raised secular, they are missing out on their heritage. If the kids are Not Jewish because their mother isn't, then the man has cut off his Jewish line of decendents. Some feel that they can still raise them as Jews, but it doesn't work like that. If he wants Jewish children, marry a Jew

(8) Talia, October 27, 2009 3:32 PM

Not sure if a line was crossed, but....

I do think that it's okay to satirize, and Family Guy definitely does this with regard to everyone, not just Jews. That said, I found a truth in this cartoon about how hard it can be to be a Jewish Mom with a Catholic husband. After one has children it becomes easier to understand why interfaith marriage is not usually recommended. It seems like the more I delve into my Jewish heritage, the more I add observance to my life and our daughter's life, the more my husband delves into his Catholicism and wants to tell me stories related to the miracles of Jesus. I hate Christmastime for this reason-there seems to be no comfortable middle road, because to me it's not right to raise children in that wishy washy place where they don't really have anything. I know this cartoon was meant to be funny but it really touched a nerve with me.

(7) KnowledgeHunter, October 27, 2009 11:25 AM

Not a problem!

Any fan or regular watcher of "Family Guy" knows that the Griffin household is depicted as far past disfunctional in emotions and mental abilities. In one episode, Lois married theh dog when she thought Peter was dead. That really wasn't too bad a choise. Brian, the dog, is the smartest one of the group. The writers run with the concept that we must learn to laugh at ourselves. Everyone needs to "lighten up". One last comment: I was a Christian until I was 30, then converted to Judiasm.

(6) Darryl, October 27, 2009 4:57 AM

Offensive or comical

Much like the rest of society, sacred things get mocked on tv and in the enteratainment world more and more these days. Although we can't take ourselves too seriously and should be able to laugh, the outright degredation of both Judaism and Christianity in this show is quite disgusting and, not even funny in the process. If you're going to poke fun at something, at least the humour should be a little more sophisticated than this drivel.

(5) Ira, October 26, 2009 11:11 PM

Lois is an animated idiot

Lois, the "Family Guy" wife, had absolutely no emotional reaction when learning her mother survived the Holocaust -- she has no heart. Instead of learning more about this horrific period in world history and what it means to her, she focuses on Seder minutiae. I love comedy. Comedian Robert Klein's stand-up routine recalling his appearing the his alma mater's (Alfred University) performance of Shakespeare's "Merchant of Venice" -- he played Shylock, of course -- was hilarious. But the Family Guy episode reduced Judaism to a cultural anachronism. I'd like Stuey and the other kids from Rugrat's to walk over to the Family Guy's neighborhood and kick the kishka out of Peter and his moronic son. Then take Lois to the Holocaust Museum and give her a dose of reality.

(4) David, October 26, 2009 8:20 PM

Many do not Know

I recently found out that my father's family is predominately jewish. It has been hidden. It is expected since they are from Spain. Being Jewish could be deadly so much was hidden. I have suspision that my mothers father Parents were jewish as well but also hid it to be safe. Simply It was not something that was told many of us until much later in life. In my case it has answered many questions. Since I can not trace my linage through my mothers I will have to convert which I will do when I move to an area where there is a Jewish population. My brother is not going to and does not care. The video make fun of the situation and the response that many have to the revelation. It is closer to the truth then many would like to admit. It is not offensive because it is much closer to reality then many would admit.

(3) Nikki Koch, October 26, 2009 5:25 PM

Haha

II thought this was funny and totally in line with the characters in Family Guy. The show makes fun of everyone, this was just the Judaisms turn. If you watch the show you know that they are more "offensive" when it comes to depicting God .

(2) Anonymous, October 26, 2009 3:45 PM

family guy

I've been a fan of Family Guy since it's begnning but I do find this episode highly offensive

(1) Lee Gasparro, October 26, 2009 3:27 PM

OY VEY!

I thought this cartoon, was horrible.. Absolutely horrible.

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